El Paso City Manager Tomas "Tommy" Gonzalez told an audience of businesspeople and officials Wednesday that the city's proposed budget is based on reliable revenue numbers instead of estimates that can change later.

Gonzalez, who described his background and style of leadership, also said he believes that the city will not have to layoff employees to meet the budget as proposed.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and city Rep. Lily Limón were among those who turned out for Wednesday's Central Business Association luncheon at the Camino Real Hotel. The organization represents the interests of businesses in Downtown El Paso.

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Diana Washington Valdez

Gonzalez showed slides of his parents and of his wife and children on a large screen, and indicated that they provided strong influences on his life. He's been the city manager since late June, succeeding Joyce Wilson.

"There are a lot of things that we want to accomplish," Gonzalez said, referring to the city, and cautioned against being made to make promises that don't materialize later.

Among the challenges he's detected at the city are departments "that are not working together." Gonzalez said he wants to develop a team culture, and positive ways to motivate city staff.

"We're looking at ways to incentivize success, eliminate waste, and listen to the voice of customers," he said.

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He used an image of Civil War hero Col. Joshua Chamberlain to stress how "one man made a difference in the war." Chamberlain was a Union Army officer who took part in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, among others, and who was credited with leading turning points in the war.

A retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, Gonzalez said that in addition to his family, sports coaches and the military helped to shape his approach to leadership.

Gonzalez, the former city manager in Irving, said he will work to create a respectful and positive environment at City Hall and work to develop a budget that is based on realistic figures for revenues. After the number crunching in his short time as city manager, Gonzalez said, "I feel good about our budget estimates."

Limón said she's been impressed with Gonzalez because of his ability to connect with people.

"He has corazón (heart)," she said. "He's a people person. It was one of my priorities that we didn't have layoffs at the city, and he said today publicly that we likely won't have any. The city lost Robert Narro, a code enforcement officer. Before he died, Gonzalez went to see (Narro) in the hospital, and he also went to his funeral." Narro died earlier this month after he was struck by a vehicle while working.

During a question and answer period, Gonzalez was asked how people can be lured to Downtown, which competes for customers with malls and other shopping centers.

Gonzalez said it's important to let people know where things are and to make it easy for them to get to those places. In this way, and with the right attractions, El Paso could draw people from Albuquerque and Phoenix, he said.

Tanny Berg, a founder of the Central Business Association, said he found Gonzalez to be very approachable.

"I wanted to stress to him that shoppers from Mexico, from cities like Juárez, Torreon and Mexico City, are the bread and butter of our Downtown," Berg said. "The cultural aspects of our community are important to consider. Go to Wal-Mart and any shopping center, and you will find that 50 cents out of every dollar comes from our Mexico customers.

"We need to be respectful of their needs," Berg said. "That's why I told the city that it was a mistake to increase parking meter fees in Downtown, where some of the retail outlets rely on customers from Mexico for 80 percent of their business. For example, we don't find parking meters at Cielo Vista Mall or Wal-Mart."